Review: The Conjuring 2

The Conjuring 2 is out this Monday. Directed by James Wan, the film follows Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) as they investigate another paranormal event, this time in London.

The Warrens return to do battle against a paranormal force once again, this time attempting to help the unfortunate Hodgsons.

The characters in The Conjuring 2 are surprisingly well developed for a film of this genre. The Hodgsons and the Warrens are nuanced, adding unexpected humanity to the film. There are a lot of potential horror films that could learn a lesson from Wan’s treatment of his protagonists. For example, the Hodgsons are a perfect family, they’re fun and have a clear love for each other. The cast deserves much of the credit for accentuating this bond. Particular note is Frances O’Connor who plays Peggy Hodgson, the matriarch of the family. She loves her family deeply, trying so hard to protect them against this inhuman force. Janet (Madison Wolfe) she is the focal point of the haunting, and Wolfe is spellbinding in the role. Her incredible performance allows you to invest emotionally in the family’s troubles.

The Conjuring’s leads Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga make a welcome return as the paranormal investigating duo the Warrens. They are charming and have a wonderful rapport and like Wolfe and the rest of the supporting cast, it gives you a reason to care about what happens to these people. There is one great scene where both the Warrens and the Hodgson family sit down and simply hang out to try and bring humanity back to the horrifying situation they find themselves in. This is a simple scene where Ed realises that the family needs to be together to fight the ghost. He sits them all down, talks about love and family and what brings them together. This quiet, thoughtful scene slows the film down and allows you to take stock of the importance of their bond staying strong.

The fully realised emotional connection that the family have with each other really magnifies the impact of the horror. Add director Wan’s intense cinematography and there’s a lot to fear in The Conjuring 2 . One of the most notable scares comes from a demonic nun that is so reminiscent of Marilyn Manson you may never look at the beloved singer the same way again. The Conjuring 2 also has a level of credibility most horror films don’t have because it doesn’t go for the easy scares. Yes, there are jump scares but for the most part, they are earned. The fear levels are also heightened thanks to an unsettling and powerful score which is reminiscent of The Exorcist in both tone and mood.

There are a few problems, unfortunately. The Conjuring 2 doesn’t use CGI often but when it does it is not especially effective. One notable scene with a boy and a dog will stick in your head as poorly executed and laughable. Luckily it’s just a minor problem.

The Conjuring 2 has something that few horrors these days have, heart, surprising levels of humour and most importantly horror. If you’re a horror fan you owe it to yourself to see The Conjuring 2.

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Superman enthusiast, pop culture fan and film journalist. Creator of podcast Speakin' Geek and contributor to Scannain.com, iRadio and Spin 103.8. I love talking about anything and everything(except country music, I hate country music). My views are my own and I would love to discuss them with you.